The 25 best centre-backs in world football - ranked

A top central defender is like gold dust in the modern footballing climate. It's a role that not only requires exceptional mental and physical attributes, but the ability to lead and organise a defensive line.

There are so few who have mastered the role over the years; even fewer who are still playing. Picking the top 25, then, is quite the undertaking at 90min as part of our 2023 Welcome to World Class series.

After plenty of debate, however, we've managed to come up with the definitive list. Please don't disagree, there's been enough of that already.

25. Dayot Upamecano

France are well stacked in central defence and Dayot Upamecano is among their top options thanks to his strength, speed and anticipation.

The centre back is always on the lookout for the right pass forward to get Bayern Munich moving, having impressed at former club RB Leipzig.

24. Jules Kounde

A player who can play both right-back and centre-back, Jules Kounde's versatility makes him a great asset to Barcelona.

The French defender was part of a stubborn defence last season and has still shown glimpses of his best this term.

23. Raphael Varane

After a difficult start to life at Manchester United, Raphael Varane has found his best form in a red shirt this season. Injuries to teammates helped him reclaim his spot in the lineup and he hasn't looked back since.

Trophy-laden years with Real Madrid are also hard to ignore and Varane's importance to Los Blancos during his ten seasons at the Bernabeu keeps him among the very best centre-backs in world football.

22. Matthijs de Ligt

When Ajax looked to be storming towards the Champions League final in 2018/19, it was Matthijs de Ligt performing like a colossus at the back as a teenager that caught the eye.

The talent is undoubted and though the Dutchman's progress stalled at Juventus, his move to Bayern Munich has helped him rediscover his potential.

21. Micky van de Ven

Micky van de Ven settled in north London ridiculously quickly following his move from Wolfsburg, with the Dutch centre-back having been largely impenetrable when in the Tottenham team this season.

An injury earlier in the campaign has limited his game time but Van de Ven has looked sharp since returning from the sidelines.

20. Edmond Tapsoba

Bayer Leverkusen's meteoric rise under Xabi Alonso has been aided by the impressive displays of Edmond Tapsoba.

The Burkina Faso international boasts the athleticism needed to thrive at the highest level and has vastly improved under the Spaniard's tutelage.

19. Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez's start at Man Utd was pretty tough and fans and pundits alike were quick to label him too short to succeed in the Premier League.

However, he has bounced back from criticism and 'the Butcher' is winning supporters over in defence with his combative tackling and excellent passing skills.

It's just a shame about those injuries.

18. Josko Gvardiol

2022/23 was a productive season for Josko Gvardiol as he helped Croatia to the semi-finals of the World Cup, won the DFB-Pokal and finished third in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.

A mammoth move to Manchester City followed last summer and Gvardiol has made a strong start to life in English football.

17. Manuel Akanji

Once not that highly-rated while at Borussia Dortmund, Akanji is one of the many, many players who have benefitted from working with Pep Guardiola.

He's now bloody brilliant.

16. Marquinhos

Marquinhos arrived at Paris Saint-Germain as a teenager with much hype around his potential.

He's switched from central defence to defensive midfield and back again, becoming the lynchpin as PSG dominate - for the most part - in France.

Now entering his peak years as a defender, Marquinhos is only improving with age and is a vital presence at international level with Brazil.

15. Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake performs a hybrid defensive role on the left for Man City and has boundless energy to make it work for Guardiola.

The Dutchman wasn't an immediate success at the Etihad but found form at the start of 2023. City fans can always count on Ake if a last-ditch tackle is ever required.

14. Ibrahima Konate

The Frenchman has often found himself in Virgil van Dijk's huge shadow at Anfield, but his development has been superb under Jurgen Klopp since making the move to Liverpool.

The defender has fantastic recovery speed and is great in one-v-one duels, attributes needed when playing in the Reds' high line.

13. Cristian Romero

Tottenham fans quickly fell in love with aggressive right-sided Argentina international Cristian Romero.

A fiery tackler who links up well in possession, Romero won Serie A's defender of the year award for his displays with Atalanta before joining Spurs.

Now a World Cup winner, Romero is key for Tottenham.

12. Gleison Bremer

Gleison Bremer's growing influence at Torino culminated in the Brazilian winning the award for Serie A's best defender in 2021/22.

Juventus were suitably impressed and splashed out £45m for the defender. It was wise business from La Vecchia Signora, who have been pretty dodgy in the transfer market recently.

Signing Bremer was no misstep, however, with the Brazilian now a key member of the starting XI.

11. Alessandro Bastoni

Alessandro Bastoni is an established presence in Inter's defence and enjoyed a brilliant 2020/21 campaign in their Serie A-title winning season.

The Italy international impresses with the timing of his challenges and boasts immense calmness under pressure.

He has big boots to fill on the international scene with Giorgio Chiellini out of the picture and Leonardo Bonucci approaching the same fate, but in Bastoni there's a worthy successor for the Azzurri.

10. Eder Militao

Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane's exits from Real Madrid meant there were big boots to fill at the Bernabeu.

It was Eder Militao who initially stepped up and the Brazilian soon formed an excellent partnership with fellow new arrival David Alaba as Madrid did the La Liga and Champions League double in 2021/22.

An injury on the opening day of the current campaign stalled his development, but he is fit again and ready to contribute.

9. Gabriel

Gabriel was perhaps seen as the weak link in his partnership with William Saliba as Arsenal came close to the Premier League title last season.

However, that's no longer the case.

The Brazilian has been immense this campaign for the stubborn Gunners and also finds the back of the net more often than most defenders.

8. Kim Min-jae

Fans around Europe took notice of the indomitable Kim Min-jae as the South Korean led Napoli's defence in their 2022/23 Scudetto triumph.

Having now secured a move to Bayern, the Bavarians now have one of the world's best on their books.

7. David Alaba

When all is said and done, David Alaba will be recognised as one of the greatest players of his generation.

The Austrian broke through at Bayern Munich as a teenager and played much of his football at left-back due to the Bundesliga side's beefy options in central defence.

However, his incredible skill set makes him an ideal centre back - even if he isn't blessed with the height of some - and the fact he's played in some of the most successful club sides in history tells you just how important he is.

He continues to impress with Real Madrid and at international level with Austria, where he'll play anywhere from left-back to attacking midfield.

6. Ronald Araujo

During some pretty dark economic and playing days for Barcelona, the emergence of Ronald Araujo was one of their few bright moments.

The Uruguayan established himself under Ronald Koeman. While not the best with the ball at his feet, Araujo is always switched on at the back and likes to make the first move when winning the ball back.

His tactical awareness and presence in the air mark him out as a major force to contend with for the next decade.

5. William Saliba

William Saliba has been a truly transformative figure in Arsenal's defence since returning from a few loans over in Ligue 1.

The Frenchman can match any Premier League attacker for pace and has already established a formidable partnership at the back with Gabriel.

Saliba remains one of the most graceful centre-backs you're likely to see.

4. John Stones

There was a time when John Stones looked firmly out of the picture at Man City, with the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and even Eric Garcia all ahead in the pecking order.

However, he won favour again with Guardiola and his versatility at right-back and in midfield means he's a guaranteed starter when fit.

His ease in possession is a joy to watch and helped City to a brilliant 2022/23 treble.

3. Ruben Dias

Ruben Dias made an incredible start to his career at Man City and has only improved with time.

In his debut campaign, he was named FWA Footballer of the Year, Manchester City Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season and the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season.

The Portugal defender was a mainstay during the 2022/23 run-in as City completed a famous treble.

2. Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is not a defender opposition defenders relish coming up against.

With a gigantic frame and pace to match, the Netherlands international was a leading figure in a Liverpool side that became European and domestic champions in 2019 and 2020.

A few injuries and some dodgy performances affected his stock slightly around the world, but the 32-year-old is now back to his imperious best this term.

1. Antonio Rudiger

Having earned a move to Real Madrid thanks to his stunning performances for Chelsea, Rudiger has developed into a truly world class centre-back under Carlo Ancelotti.

If you're a regular for Madrid, you know you're big time.

READ MORE ON THE BEST 25 PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN WORLD FOOTBALL